Money Matters: The Rise of Rothschild Bank

By Michelle Styles

Frankfurt in the 18th century was not a good place to be Jewish in many ways. Confined to a filthy overcrowded ghetto which they were forbidden to leave without a special pass, life was short and cheap but it was from this place that one of the world's great banking dynasties, the Rothschild Bank, would emerge.

On 23 February 1744, Mayer Amschel Rothschild was born. Mayer Rothschild is ranked 7th most influential businessman of all time by Forbes Magazine. He basically changed the concept of international finance. By the time he was twelve, he was an orphan as both his parents died in one of the frequent epidemics but Mayer was lucky. He was sent to Hanover and learnt the trade of being a court agent. From there, he became the court agent to Prince William of Hesse-Kassel and married the daughter of another court agent. But the main base of their operation was the overcrowded ghetto in Frankfurt.

Their five sons--Amschel Mayer, Saloman, Nathan Mayer, Kalman and Jakob--became the most famous bankers in Europe, but it was Mayer Amschel who oversaw it all. He rapidly realised that there were fortunes to be made by wheeling and dealing in foreign, if one could get reliable information. One by one the brothers were sent out into the world to found businesses for their father. Nathan Rothschild first went to Manchester for the cotton but later went into banking in London. He specialised in transferring large sums of money legally or illegally to those in need of hard cash and no one needed it more than the British His brother Jakob went to France, Saloman to Vienna and Kalman to Naples.

Amschel stayed in Frankfurt. The brothers communicated with their father in Judendeutsch, evolving their own codes which gave them the edge in the business world. It is largely through the efforts of Nathan and Jakob that the English had enough money to defeat Napoleon. Developing a taste for cloak and dagger work, Nathan and Jakob indulged in the smuggling of gold bullion through France and into Spain to finance Wellington's operation. London was codename Jerusalem and Rabbi Moses was the transfer of funds. They liberally oiled the wheels of finance with backhanders etc but really there were very few rivals. The Rothschilds also had a very good system of carrier pigeons and were consistently able to get the news before anyone else.

There is an unfortunate legend that Nathan Rothschild fooled the City by selling shares when he alone knew of Wellington's victory, using his inside knowledge to make an absolute killing. The truth is that his first action when he learnt of the victory was to inform the British government. The ending of the Napoleonic War spelt an end to many of Rothschild activities and huge profits. However by then they were fabulously wealthy and the European banking system had changed forever.

Michelle Styles is passionate about history and passionate romance. An author over 16 books for Harlequin Historical, she writes in a variety of time periods from Roman and Viking through to early Victorian. A QUESTION OF IMPROPRIETY will be a December 2010 Harlequin Historical release.

Women Did It Better: Deborah and Yael

By Anna C. Bowling

Before there was Judge Judy, there was Judge Deborah, whose story can be found in the Biblical Old Testament Book of Judges. Her story connects with that of a woman named Yael, who proves that Army wives can get the job done. Whether one considers the spiritual side of Deborah and Yael's adventure fact or fable, their tale is a compelling one. Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, held her court between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, serving as leader as well as settling disputes. During the time Deborah led her people, Israel faced an impressive enemy in Sisera, captain of the Canaanite army. For twenty years, Sisera's army oppressed Israel and Israel had had enough.

Deborah, a prophetess as well as a judge, summoned Barak, one of Israel's greatest military men, and told him that God had laid out a plan for Barak to follow which would deliver Sisera's army, with nine hundred iron chariots, into Israelite hands. Barak agreed to follow this plan, but only if Deborah would go with him. If she would not, neither would he. Deborah did accompany Barak, but told him that because of the way he was going about this, the honor for the victory would not be his, and God would hand the enemy over to a woman. Barak, Deborah and ten thousand soldiers set out for Mount Tabor to face off against Sisera.

According to Deborah's prophecy, the plan succeeded. The Israelites conquered the Canaanites, but Sisera managed to escape on foot. Fleeing to a tent he suspected would give him safe haven, Sisera found himself greeted by Yael, who welcomed him into her tent. Yael gave Sisera a drink of milk and covered him with a blanket. Yael, seeing her chance, waited for Sisera to fall asleep and then drove a tent peg through his skull.

"Jael Slaying Sisera" by Maarten van Heemskerck, 1551.
When Barak came searching for Sisera, he found his enemy in Yael's tent, already dead. This fulfilled the second part of Deborah's prophecy, that the honor of dispatching Sisera would go to a woman.

Holidays & Celebrations:Winter Festivities in the Old West

By Jacquie Rogers

Yule Brings Celebration For All

The snow blows nearly sideways as it blankets the range. Ranch hands hunker down in their saddles, scarves over their ears and their Stetsons protecting them from the fierce wind. They dream of a warm fire and hot buttered rum. But they have livestock to save from freezing and starvation, so they ride on.

It's Christmas on the open range. Miserable for man and beast. But it isn't just another day at the office, so to speak. They whittle gifts for one another, sing a few carols as they sit around the campfire warming their hands and feet. Cook gives them a hot meal--the finest beans with maybe some meat thrown in. And with a little luck, Cook would bake an apple pie. Life couldn't be better and they thank their lucky stars for a sound horse and solid tack.

(Yes, I know these cattle are a modern breed and very fat, but it's the only picture I could find.)

Chanukkah in the mines

It's the 1860's in Silver City, Idaho. The Festival of Lights has been celebrated in the West since the beginning of frontier settlement, but not like their counterparts back East who have a warm and dry place to worship with their families. A menorah can be lit anywhere, and the Jewish silver miners do just that. They pray, play a little dreidel, and think a lot of home.

The picture to the left is the oldest continuously used synagogue west of the Mississippi. It's located in Boise, Idaho, and was built in 1896 by the Beth Israel congregation, now called the Ahavath Beth Israel congregation. Very beautiful.

Christmas on the farm

Everyone has chores to do every day. Cows needs milked, livestock needs watered and fed, eggs need gathered, and the barnyard needs to be tidied (to use a gentile term). So after the chores are done, the family can gather together and celebrate Christmas with what meager resources they have. If they don't have evergreen trees to spare, they might decorate a sagebrush with popcorn and berries. They make ornaments with precious bits of paper and scraps of cloth. Peach tins make nice ornaments, too, and they shine in the firelight.

1876 Christmas, Harper's Weekly

Their celebration might be more humble than those in the eastern cities, but they have a grand time, nevertheless. The women cook for days. They're resourceful and whatever they have available will do for a fine pie or stew. The Christmas feast could consist of chicken, venison, or maybe a ham, along with homemade rolls, freshly churned butter, potatoes and gravy, and pies--maybe one made with dried apples and a vinegar pie. Each family member has made modest gifts for the others and even the smallest child has labored over precious gifts--maybe a drawing or a doll made of sticks. They sing carols, maybe read the Bible, and if they're close enough to town, maybe even go to church.

For most Christian families, Christmas is a day for family togetherness and to show their love and appreciation for one another, as well as celebrating the religious aspect of the holy day.

Christmas for Outlaws, Gunslingers, and Cyprians

The saloon owner brings small gifts for the working ladies, the bartender, the resident gambler, and a few of the regulars. A few cowpunchers bring gifts for their favorite girl. They might have a nice meal together before they open for business, and even then, the customers are few. It's one night they can relax.

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

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